Israeli tank strikes Gaza hospital kill 4, scores injured - medics

The father (C) of Palestinian man Zakareya al-Ashqar, who medics said was killed during heavy Israeli shelling, reacts outside a hospital morgue in Gaza City July 21, 2014. (Reuters / Mohammed Salem) / Reuters

Four Palestinian’s have been killed and dozens wounded after an Israeli tank shell hit the third floor of Al-Aqsa hospital in central Gaza, according to a Health Ministry spokesman.

Ashraf Al-Qidra said that the third floor housed an intensive
care unit and operating theaters. Other shells had fallen around
the hospital, he added, with officials calling on the Red Cross
to help evacuate patients.

A doctor at the hospital, Fayez Zidane, told the station that
shells hit the third and fourth floor as well as the reception
area.

"There is still shelling against the hospital," he said
speaking to AP. He said he found bits of a rocket, presumably
from one of the projectiles.

Zidane appealed to the Red Cross and a nearby hospital to send
help.

There have been conflicting reports about the number of people
injured following the attack. Reuters has put the figure at 16,
while AP says 60 have been wounded, including 30 medics.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment. In the past it has
accused Hamas Islamist militants of firing rockets from the
grounds of Gaza hospitals and of seeking refuge in the buildings.

The Palestinian death toll has now risen above 500, since the
Israeli army started its offensive in Gaza on July 8. Gaza health
officials put the exact figure at 518, which includes over 100
children.

Meanwhile, Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has
called on Israel to stop shelling in the Gaza Strip, saying it is
complicating efforts to provide care. In a statement published on
its website Sunday, MSF said, “the majority of the dead and
wounded in Gaza are civilians and medical workers are also coming
under fire.”

The organization also said it had witnessed two paramedics who
had died and two others who were injured whilst trying to rescue
wounded from Shujaiyeh. In addition, MSF said, “a clearly
identified MSF vehicle escaped an air strike 300 meters
away.” It added that Israeli authorities had promised secure
movements for the organization from the Erez border crossing to
Gaza City “so that an incoming surgical team could be picked
up.”

In addition, MSF cited its field coordinator in Gaza, Nicolas
Palarus, saying, “United Nations shelters are now overcrowded
and hygiene conditions are extremely worrying,” Haaretz
reports.

Seven Israelis killed in Gaza in last 24 hours

The IDF death toll from the hostilities in Gaza has risen to 25,
with seven Israeli soldiers killed in the last 24 hours, Haaretz
reports.

There has also been a major rocket barrage over southern and
central Israel, with two rockets intercepted over Tel Aviv.

There were also reports of two terrorist cells infiltrating
southern Israel via a tunnel from the Gaza strip on Monday and
residents were ordered to remain inside and roads were closed.

The death toll in Gaza has now reached 508 with 3,130 wounded,
since the operation began 14 days ago.